TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has emerged as a significant player in the Asia-Pacific region's billionaire landscape, adding one new billionaire to its ranks and bringing the total to 47, according to a report released on Tuesday (Dec. 10). UBS's 2024 "Billionaire Ambitions" report highlights the rapid growth of billionaires globally over the past decade, with technology sector billionaires leading the charge.
Taiwan's billionaires now account for 5% of the Asia-Pacific region's total, ranking fourth after China, India, and Hong Kong. The average assets of Taiwanese billionaires increased from approximately NT$86.1 billion in 2022 to NT$93.9 billion, reflecting a consistent growth in wealth. The report indicates the number of billionaires worldwide has soared from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past decade, peaking at 2,686 in 2021. This wealth surge, a 121% increase from NT$204 trillion to NT$453 trillion, has been driven by explosive growth in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, social media, electronic payments, and robotics.
In 2024, 268 individuals became billionaires for the first time, with 60% being entrepreneurs. UBS notes that most of this year's new billionaires are self-made, with tech billionaires experiencing the fastest wealth growth, followed by industrial magnates.